December 2015
To:
4-H/FFA Market Beef Project Members:
From:
Teresa Bohlmann, Cedar County K-12 Outreach Educator
Cedar County Extension
107 Cedar Street
Tipton Iowa 52772
Phone: 563-886-6157
FAX: 563-886-2356
URL: www/extension.iastate.edu/cedar
You are receiving this letter because you are enrolled in the market beef project area. We will weigh in all market beef animals
(county fair, state fair, Ak-Sar-Ben) as they arrive on the grounds on December 19th. The weigh-in will start at 8:30 am and
continue until noon. This is the only time set for Cedar County youth to weigh in their market beef animals.
IMPORTANT – You should be enrolled in 4hOnline prior to the weigh-in date so that we are able to enter the market beef
information for you to verify. If you have not done this, please complete this process.
COUNTY FAIR –
 There will be a $2.00 charge for each ear tag used on all county fair animals.
STATE FAIR –
 We will retinal image all animals you are considering for the state fair.
 All animals will be ear tagged with a new USDA type ear tag instead of the old style county tag.
 The cost for nominating animals for the state fair will be $7 per head.
AK-SAR-BEN –
 If you are planning to nominate for Ak-Sar-Ben, animals will have DNA taken.
 Because of show requirements – this process needs to be done during this weigh-in.
 All animals will be ear tagged with a new USDA type ear tag instead of the old style county tag.
 The cost for nominating animals for Ak-Sar-Ben will be $7 per head.
 If youth or parent will not be present at weigh-in, you will need to fill out the appropriate Ak-Sar-Ben Waiver Form(s).
ONLY YOUTH COMPLETING THE 5TH GRADE AND ABOVE ARE ELIGIBLE TO EXHIBIT AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR.
ENCLOSED IN MAILING:
 ID Form – please complete the top part of the form and bring to weigh-in
o Be sure that if it is a purebred animal you know the breed, the tattoo # and the sire registration #
o This information needs to be completed – even if you do not have a copy of the registration papers yet.
 The breeder or sale people should know this information.
 All purebred animals must have their tattoo in place when they come through the chute. We will not be
doing any tattooing during the weigh-in process.
 Waiver Form – If you are nominating for Ak-Sar-Ben and a youth or parent will not be present at weigh-in, you will need
to sign the Ak-Sar-Ben Waiver Form (if both youth and parent not present, both sign waivers – if either one not present,
whoever is not there needs to sign a waiver). County Fair or Iowa State Fair does not require a waiver form.
 New this year – No County Bred and Raised Form or Return Bottle Bucket Form – this information will be collected
in the Fair Entry system when you make entry for the county fair this spring.
YOUTH:
 Should dress appropriately – hard toed shoes and dress warmly as the weather could be cold and there will be a
waiting time before your animals are weighed in.
 Are expected to follow their animals through the weigh in process. Know which animals are for state fair, which are for
county fair, and which are for Ak-Sar-Ben.
 If the trailer has animals for more than one youth – please separate them by youth. It makes it much easier for the
people who are doing the paper work to record the information.
 After the weigh in information is recorded you will have until January 15th to go to 4hOnline.com and confirm the
information for your market beef animals. If you do not go through the verification process – it will roll over and
whatever information is entered will be considered the correct information (even if there is an error).
All checks should be made out to the Cedar County Extension. If you have questions, please contact the Extension Office and
speak with Teresa – 563-886-6157. If you need to contact me on weigh-in morning – 563-212-4972.
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability